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Karin’s Ward 3 News and Updates
Friday, April 9, 2021
News and Updates
Pet of the Week
Ward 3 Neighborhood Association/Coalition Meetings
Ward 3 Events
City Wide Events
Did You Know?
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Dear Tucsonans,
Earlier this week my colleagues and I took action to begin the formal public outreach on differential water rates as we investigate how service to unincorporated areas might promote water security and climate resiliency for the region. I encourage each of you to participate in that conversation and stay tuned for future information from the Ward 3 staff.
My colleagues and I are continuing to discuss next fiscal year's budget. I am working diligently to weigh all the needs and concerns I am hearing from Ward 3 constituents. The City Manager's recommended budget will be presented at the May 4th Mayor and Council meeting. The Ward 3 staff and I will continue to share budget updates in future newsletters.
And in this week’s newsletter, we bring you updates on COVID, future improvements to Columbus Park and an interview with State Representative Andrés Cano who offers his frank assessment of the Legislature’s suppression of voting rights. I believe it’s critical that we understand the ramifications to Ward 3 if these measures are adopted. Lastly, mark your calendars for the Earth Day celebration at Mansfield Park on April 24.
Sincerely,
Karin
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Interview with Representative Cano
We asked State Representative Andrés Cano to give Ward 3 an update on current pressing issues in the state legislature. Representative Cano represents the 3rd district in the Arizona House of Representatives which covers a portion of Ward 3. He was elected in 2018.
The GOP majority in both chambers have been discussing changing some rules on voter registration and voting, similar to Republican legislatures in other states. What are some of those changes and how would they affect Ward 3 voters?
Ward 3 voters should be very alarmed at the GOP’s continued attack on voting rights. In this legislative session alone, nearly two dozen pieces of legislation have been introduced to blatantly suppress voters and further marginalize our communities of color. For instance, Senate Bill 1485 would eliminate 200,000+ Arizonans from receiving their early ballots by mail. Senate Bill 1783 would reject any returned early ballot if a voter fails to handwrite their driver's license number on the mailed envelope. Lastly, House Bill 2811 would prohibit same-day voter registration even though it's legal in 17 other states. I won’t sit silent while my Republican colleagues try to guise these voter suppression bills as ensuring election integrity; in fact, it’s the exact opposite—they’re all sham efforts to undermine our democracy.
The Republican Senate recently ordered an audit of the ballots cast in Maricopa County for the 2020 election. While the county has already conducted an audit which showed no errors, the Senate president believes that former President Trump was the legitimate victor. What message does the Senate president's action send to Ward 3 residents?
Extremist Republicans throughout our state and nation can help us all move forward by conceding that Donald Trump lost the election—a reality that every reasonable person knows is true. Rather than focusing on how to uplift our small businesses and the unemployed throughout COVID-19, the GOP seems hell-bent on spreading continued misinformation about our 2020 elections solely because they are unhappy with the will of the voters. Moreover, the State Senate has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on this sham audit—money that could have been used to keep Arizonans in their homes.
Public education has been hurting from the lack of sufficient public funds. What steps, if any, is the legislature taking to increase funding for public schools?
Arizona’s legislature has gutted funding to our public school teachers and students for more than a decade. This lack of investment is the prime reason why 50,000 pro-public education advocates marched to the State Capitol in 2018 as part of the #RedForEd movement. Two years later, after the Ducey-appointed Supreme Court refused to allow voters to directly support investing in our classrooms, Arizona voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 208. Prop. 208 will bring in nearly $1 billion to our public schools, increase teacher pay, lower classroom size, and help train more teachers for the next generation of Arizona K-12 students. In typical fashion, our GOP-led legislature is not pleased with this citizen-driven mandate, and is currently discussing ways to ensure Arizona’s millionaires avoid paying the surcharges approved by voters. I oppose this direct attack on the will of the voters, and, as a graduate of Arizona’s public schools, I’ll keep demanding further investment in our K-12 schools.
The lack of affordable housing is a major problem in Ward 3. Additionally evictions are very real for many ward residents. Is the legislature taking any steps to minimize evictions and provide more funds for affordable housing?
I am deeply alarmed that the GOP governor and legislature have not prioritized eviction prevention and mortgage relief. Prior to the pandemic, 30 families in Pima County alone were being evicted every single day. Now, we’re seeing evictions being fast-tracked and more people are on the streets. I know that working families need short and long-term solutions and that’s why I’m advocating for a full restoration of $40 million to Arizona’s Housing Trust Fund in the year ahead. Housing is not affordable in Pima County, or really in any part of the state, right now. We must consider this reality as one of the greatest economic injustices and public health catastrophes of our time.
What legislation are you driving or supporting that will have a healthy and positive impact for Ward 3 residents?
This is my third year representing the people of Legislative District 3. Every one of those years, I’ve been the prime sponsor of legislation that would restore funding to Pima Community College, which has received zero dollars in state support since 2015. The GOP legislature has refused to give any of these bills a hearing despite our state’s $1 billion surplus. I won’t give up. Our adult learners deserve every dollar of our support and community colleges are key to our economic development in Southern Arizona.
Prior to his election to the legislature, Representative Cano served as a senior aide to the late Pima County Supervisor Richard Elías. Representative Cano sits on the House Committee on Ways & Means, and the House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy, & Water.
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National Service Recognition Day
Tuesday was National Service Recognition Day. In recognition of that day, Council Member Uhlich recorded a video in appreciation of those who give their service to their communities or other communities. The Council Member highlighted the contributions that Americorps Vista volunteers provide to the Thrive in the 05 initiative. The volunteers have brought their youthful energy, ideas and enthusiasm. And during this past year of the pandemic the Americorps workers stepped up and adapted to the fast-changing challenges and demands created by the public health threat.
Click the photo to watch Karin's video
The Thrive in the 05 is a collaborative effort between the City’s Housing and Community Development Department, Arizona State University’s Office of Community Health, Engagement and Resiliency, and Pima Community College Downtown Campus.
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Earth Day
Here’s the Ward 3 pop quiz:
A: When is Earth Day?
B: What is Earth Day?
C: How can you celebrate Earth Day?
Answers
A: April 22.
B: A day to commit to life-long action to improve the health and future of the Earth.
- You can come to the Earth Day Drive-Thru Extravaganza, Saturday, April 24, from 9 am to 1 pm at the Donna Liggins Recreation Center in Mansfield Park, 2160 N. 6th Ave.
For Earth Day, we are teaming up with BrandBuilders, LLC, Tucson Clean and Beautiful, Tucson Water, Department of Transportation and Mobility, Parks and Recreation and the Mayor's Office to encourage conservation and sustainability.
Nicole Gillett, the City’s Urban Forestry Program Manager who oversees the Tucson Million Trees initiative said residents will have the opportunity to plant trees at Mansfield Park. Residents from surrounding neighborhoods surrounding the park can join crews from the City of Tucson's Team Up to Clean Up and Trees for Tucson starting at 9 am.
“We will also have several opportunities to pick up litter around the park. Feel free to stay in your family pod, join another group or pop in and out as you can. Please bring your mask, reusable water (a refill station will be available), and a hat, it might be hot,” said Nicole, who is a Ward 3 neighbor.
In addition, the new Ready, Set, Rec! van will be at Mansfield Park from 10 am to noon. Parks and Rec staff will have COVID-safe activities for the kids and the young at heart: family games such as cornhole, connect four, Jenga, badminton, hula hoops and bucket toss. The van will be parked by the 4th Avenue side of the park where there will be some parking for cars.
Those who pre-purchase a compost bin or tree or rain barrel, will drive into the Liggins Center’s parking lot off of 6th Avenue, pick up their purchase and drive out. But anyone will be allowed to park on the street or in the parking lot across the park and visit the park during the festivities. Neighbors are also encouraged to bike or walk to the park. Please register here if you can volunteer for tree planting.
To buy a compost bin, order it here and it will be ready for pickup at the park on Earth Day. Here is the link to pre-order your rain barrel, trees and other items from Tucson Clean & Beautiful. The deadline to order is April 18 and pick up is on Earth Day at Mansfield.
To finish our quiz, one final question. When was Earth Day first celebrated?
Answer: 1970
For half a century, people in this country and across the globe have celebrated Earth Day and raised awareness of the critical importance to commit to change to make our Earth healthier by doing simple things at home and to support local, state and national policies that lead to preserving our environment.
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Let’s Compost!
About two months ago the City’s Environmental and General Services Department opened a compost facility at the Los Reales landfill on the city’s southeast side. Betcha didn’t know that. Food scraps are collected from commercial businesses from across the city and trucked to the compost yard.
Carlos de la Torre, director of Tucson’s Environmental and General Services Department, left, Fatima Luna, Environmental and Sustainability Advisor to Mayor Regina Romero, and Trevor Ledbetter of the University of Arizona
Tuesday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the compost yard, attended by several City representatives, UA students and members of the Environmental Services advisory commission.
The Environmental Services Department and the University of Arizona’s Compost Cats, a group that has focused on creating more compost opportunities, have been collaborating on the FoodCycle program. Through this effort local businesses are taught what items can and can not be composted. The good food scraps are diverted to the City’s compost facility.
While many local gardeners and community gardeners make compost, making it on a larger scale will provide a number of environmental benefits. Compost from the City’s facility will be used on City parks and golf courses, and some of it will go to the university. Composting lessens the amount of food scraps buried in the landfill.
Business owners who would like to participate in the FoodCycle program can contact Andy Vera Andy.Vera@tucsonaz.gov or Tom Scott Thomas.Scott@tucsonaz.gov, both in Environmental Services.
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Community Safety Program Update
On Tuesday, Mayor Romero and Deputy City Manager Liana Perez provided an update on the Community Safety Program. As regular readers will recall, this effort aims to re-imagine and promote safety for all residents of Tucson. A critical component includes efforts to ensure that broader support services are readily available to residents if they find themselves in a crisis.
During the fall and winter, a city team led by Mayor Romero’s office has been assessing resources within City of Tucson Department as well as though available through community partners and other external resources. This review has identified both the existing strengths and the gaps that we must address as a city.
Having gone through this critical review, the City of Tucson is prepared to move into a more public-facing phase. The foundational driver here is that a collaborative approach will drive the development of the Community Safety Program. So what’s ahead? Here’s a few great slides from Tuesday’s presentation that lays out what’s coming next in Phase 2 and then Phase 3 of the program.
   As Council Member Uhlich shared on Tuesday, she is eager to roll up her sleeves and help develop this important program. Each of you will have a role to play and we encourage you to keep an eye out in the Ward 3 newsletter and on the Ward 3 social media accounts to find future notices.
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Columbus Park
Thursday evening the Parks and Recreation Department held two virtual public forums to talk about the future improvements at Christopher Columbus Park on North Silverbell Road in Ward 3. The park is slated to receive more than $7M in renovations and improvements. Multiple renovations are planned including new sports fields and LED lighting, parking, playgrounds, ramadas, restrooms, and a new splash pad. Improvements are planned in two phases. The money for the park comes from you, the voters who in 2018, approved Proposition 407, a $225M bond package for capital improvements.
Last night’s sessions provided a good glimpse into what possible future improvements could come to Columbus Park. More soccer fields? Softball diamonds? An equestrian park? To know what park users would like to see, we invite you to complete a survey, online, which will help Parks and Recreation staff, and the park design consultants, develop an inviting and user-friendly regional park. You can fill out the survey here. The survey can be completed in English and Spanish. The survey will close on Sunday, April 18, at 11:45 p.m. Go here to view the recorded sessions. There were sessions in English and Spanish.
 Click the map for larger view
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COVID-19 Update
First the good news: more people are being vaccinated and hospitalization numbers are dropping in Tucson and in Pima County.
Now the bad news: there are signs that more variants of the COVID virus are expanding in the state and a potential exists for a new wave in the ongoing pandemic as hospitalization rates are climbing in other states.
The pandemic has not disappeared and while more people have become lax about practicing safe practice and Gov. Ducey has said it’s safe not to wear masks, most scientists and medical experts urge people to use a mask, maintain social distancing and wash your hands. In fact, the City and the County continue to have a mask mandate in place and many, if not most, businesses require customers to wear a mask before entering.
Pima County, the City of Tucson, and Tucson Medical Center are working to shift and expand their COVID-19 vaccination efforts to indoor facilities to beat the heat. The latest change involves moving TMC's drive-thru site to a walk-through facility at the City of Tucson’s Morris K. Udall Recreation Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Rd., beginning April 19. Another new site recently opened at the El Pueblo Center, 101 W. Irvington Road. The Kino Event Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way, will begin indoor vaccinations on April 12.
The TCC vaccination center is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. There is free parking at the garage off Church Avenue (east side of the TCC). The indoor site at El Pueblo Center opened April 5 and is designed for same-day, on-site registration and vaccinations, and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.
Help is also available in English and Spanish by calling (520) 222-0119 for those who are unable to make an online appointment.
Also, COVID testing continues. It remains critical that people over the age of 5 get tested for the virus. You can get tested even if you do not have symptoms.
While the number of people receiving their vaccinations is rising, many people, for different reasons, are choosing not to get vaccinated at this point. The general consensus is getting vaccinated outweighs getting the virus. The more people practice safe protocols and get vaccinated, the faster we can get out of the pandemic.
In other COVID-related information, families who have lost a family member to the virus this year and can not afford funeral expenses, new federal funding assistance will provide financial help. The program allows FEMA to provide financial assistance for COVID-19 related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020. Apply here. FEMA will begin to accept applications on April 12, 2021 through a dedicated call center. Phone: 844-684-6333 TTY: 800-462-7585.
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Save the Date!
Monday
April 26
5-6:30
Amphi Park
510 E Navajo Rd
 Please Save the Date for Monday, April 26 from 5-6:30 for a Meet and Greet with Council Member Uhlich at Amphi Park. Please note: Masks and social distancing will be required to attend this event.
More details to come in future newsletters and on social media.
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Poppy
Poppy is just an itty bitty, weighing in at less than 5 pounds! She is a snuggle bug and would love nothing more than to come home with you and keep you company for naps. Snacks are always appreciated and playtime is definitely a must.
You can find Poppy and many other animals up for adoption at the Pima Animal Care Center. Cat adoptions are by appointment only. To get started, please fill out the Cat Adoption Survey and then you will receive a link to schedule an appointment in your email.
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Ward 3 Neighborhood Association/Coalition Meetings |
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Limberlost
Saturday
April 10
10-11:30 am
Limberlost Family Park
(Limberlost and N. 4th Ave.).
Please wear a mask and bring a chair. Social distancing will be adhered to.
Grant Road Coalition
Monday
April 12
5:30 pm
zoom
Alvernon Grant Initiative
Tuesday
April 13
6 pm
ZOOM Meeting
If you would like to attend the January Zoom AGI meeting,
send an email to paloverdena@gmail.com by Tuesday, April 13 at 12 pm.
You will be sent the link to the meeting and the agenda.
JPNA
Wednesday
April 28
6- 8 pm
Zoom
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Rummage Sale
Saturday
April 17
8 am-12 pm
 Join Tucson Village Farm for ar Rummage Sale April 17th. All proceeds will go directly to outfitting their STEM classroom for summer programming. This means raising money for electricity and air conditioning! There will be TONS of treasure to pick through at great prices.
There will be furniture, sports equipment, housewares, home decorations and more.
BONUS: some of the best treasure will be available the night before (Friday April 16) on a Facebook LIVE auction. Keep an eye on their social media pages and this event for more details to come!
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Buffalo Soldiers Memorial Celebration
Monday
May 3
10 am
Quincie Douglas Center
1575 E 36th St
 Join City of Tucson Ward 5 Council Member Richard Fimbres, the Greater Southern Arizona Area Chapter (GSAAC) of the Buffalo Soldiers, and Tucson Parks and Recreation for the unveiling of the Buffalo Soldiers Memorial honoring the contributions of Black Americans in defense of the nation and settling Southern Arizona. The neighborhood surrounding the Quincie Douglas Center, where the memorial will be located, is one of the oldest historically Black neighborhoods in Tucson. We hope that the addition of this historic memorial will continue the conversation about contributions made by Black Americans in the settling of Southern Arizona and the Western United States.
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Household Hazardous Waste and Document Shredding in Ward 3
Saturday
April 10
8 am-12 pm
Pima Community College Downtown Campus
1255 N Stone Ave
For more information including list of accepted items, check here.
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Voices of Youth in Sustainability
Join Sustainable Tucson for a very special April Earth Month meeting, on April 13 at 6 pm.
A roundtable panel of youthful voices in sustainability will answer questions and talk about current issues, needs that they want to see addressed, and future planning. This will be followed by an open Q&A session.
 Panelists to date come from Changemaker High School, High Schoolers 4 Climate Justice, Sunrise Tucson, and UArizona Students For Sustainability. (There may be more.)
Listen to the future and find out how you can help.
The meeting will take place on Zoom. The link is available on their website www.sustainabletucson.org
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Pools Reopen
The City of Tucson Parks and Recreation department will open three extended-season pools and splash pads beginning Monday, April 19, in addition to four pools previously opened. Pools will continue to be open with limited capacity for adult lap swimming only, one lap swimmer per lane. Masks are required at the facility when not in the water.
 In addition, City of Tucson splash pads will also open on Monday, April 19. Splash pads are open daily from 8 a.m.-sunset.
 Locations:
- Catalina Park Splash Pad 925 N. 4th Ave.
- *NEW* Clements Splash Pad 8155 E. Poinciana Drive
- Naida Jane Baker Splash Pad 2536 N. Castro Ave.
- Palo Verde Park Splash Pad 355 S. Mann Ave.
For more details on facility hours, locations, and phone numbers, visit the Parks and Rec website.
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Eviction Prevention and Utility Assistance
This program provides support for residents struggling to pay rent or utilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit tucsonpimaep.com or call (831) 292-4302 today.
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Project Creosote: Rebuilding Grant for Those Organizing in the Arts
 The 2021 Project Creosote: Rebuilding Grant for those Organizing in the Arts is a relief effort to support arts organizations that demonstrate a commitment to enriching the community through Arts and Culture. The Arts Foundation (AFTSA) will distribute up to $10,000 to organizations operating within Southern Arizona and the Native Sovereign Nations of Ak-Chin Indian Community, Sovereign Nation of the Cocopahs, Quechan Tribe of the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation, Gila River Indian Community, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Tohono O’Odham Nation, and San Carlos Apache Nation. Southern Arizona encompasses all communities between the Gila River and the US-Mexico International Border. Collectives and cooperatives are encouraged to apply with 501(c)3 Fiscal Sponsors.
Apply here
Schedule a consultation
  2021 Proyecto Gobernadora: Subvención de reconstrucción para organizaciones en las artes es un esfuerzo de ayuda para apoyar a las organizaciones artísticas y centro culturales que demuestran su compromiso de enriquecer la comunidad a través del arte y la cultura. Arts Foundation (AFTSA) distribuirá hasta $10,000 a organizaciones que operan en el sur de Arizona y las Naciones Soberanas Nativas de la Comunidad India Ak-Chin, la Nación Soberana de los Cocopahs, la Tribu Quechan de la Reserva India Fort Yuma, la Comunidad India del Río Gila, Pascua Yaqui Tribu, Nación Tohono O'Odham, Nación Apache San Carlos. El sur de Arizona abarca todas las comunidades entre el río Gila y la frontera internacional México-Estados Unidos. Los colectivos y cooperativas pueden solicitar si tienen un patrocinador fiscal con 501(c)3.
Aplique aquí!
Programe una consulta
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